Ruto defends NYOTA programme, vows to ‘democratise’ opportunities

President William Ruto on Thursday launched the NYOTA Project Business Start-Up Capital disbursement in Ukambani, allocating Sh147.5 million to support young entrepreneurs in Machakos, Kitui, and Makueni counties.

The initiative targets 5,901 beneficiaries, each receiving Sh25,000 in the first phase to boost their businesses.

“We are using technology to deliver government programmes efficiently, transparently and free of corruption,” said the President during the launch at Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos town.

“Through total digitalisation of programmes such as NYOTA, every young person has an equal and fair chance to benefit from business capital support, on-the-job training and recognition of prior learning,” he added.

Sh22,000 was deposited directly into each of the beneficiaries’ Pochi la Biashara mobile money account while Sh3,000 is saved under Haba na Haba savings account managed by the National Social Security Fund (NSSF), promoting a culture of saving.

In the second phase, beneficiaries will receive an additional Sh25,000, bringing the total NYOTA Start-Up Capital to Sh50,000 to each of the beneficiaries.

This initiative aims to address unemployment, expand income-generating opportunities, and foster entrepreneurship among Kenya’s youth.

The NYOTA Project is part of the government’s broader efforts to empower young Kenyans through enterprise support, vocational certification, and digital skills training.

“Opportunity is now based on merit, not connections,” President Ruto said.

He also said the Government will sustain efforts to pursue different interventions in order to reach all categories of citizens towards implementing the Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).

He noted that his government had four plans which aimed at improving the livelihoods of Kenyans by way of tackling unemployment and creating employment opportunities for citizens.

Dr Ruto said his administration will continue to deploy multiple approaches to empower citizens, urging Kenyans to ignore the opposition who have on numerous occasions criticised the programme as cheap tokenism aimed at hoodwinking the youth.

“Sh50,000 is not small to many Kenyans. It may only seem so for the rich. With a countrywide reach of 820,000 youths, the programme will create more employment opportunities, enhance entrepreneurship and create a culture of saving,” the President said.

He said the expanded citizen-empowerment approach, which includes Kazi Majuu, the Affordable Housing Programme and the Digital Jobs programme, was part of the government’s plan to achieve the Singapore dream.

“Jobs don’t just happen. They are created by design. That is why we are deliberately doing this and I am persuading the young people to deploy their energy towards transforming our country,” Dr Ruto added.

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki hailed President Ruto for delivering the bottom-up promise, saying the various interventions the government was making were impactful to Kenyans at the bottom of the economic pyramid.

The President was flanked by CSs Alfred Mutua (Labour), Salim Mvurya (Youth and Sports) and Wycliffe Oparanya (Cooperatives and MSMEs).

Others included MPs Mwengi Mutuse (Kibwezi West), Caleb Mule (Machakos Town), Fabian Muli (Kangundo), Vincent Kawaya (Mwala), Tabitha Mutinda (Nominated), Charles Nguna (Mwingi West), and Rachael Nyamai (Kitui South).